In the previous chapters, we had seen a restless Bharata, unable to absorb the dual shock, set out on a journey to the abode of Rama in a faraway place. Bharata and the citizens thus embark on a vital journey to meet Rama, request him to counsel and take over the throne. The melancholic state of Bharata, the length, duration of the journey, the people he meets in between, the number of people he takes along – all add up to the important moment he meets Rama. This meeting, appraisal of Dasaratha’s demise, the conversations that take place and the decisions that emerge out are of high importance to Bharata, people of Ayodhya and Rama. Let us look at the moments Bharata meets Rama and all the conversation that takes place between them in the next many chapters.
We had seen the army of Bharata surrounding mount Chitrakuta which had grown suspicion in Lakshmana, questioning their motive. In chapter 97, Rama pacifies Lakshmana, saying that Bharata, due to his affection towards his brothers and due to the distress that troubles his mind after hearing of the news of their exile, he came to the forest and not with any other motive. Ashamed of himself to hear the opinion of Rama about Bharata, and descending the tree, Lakshmana hides his abashment.
As Lakshmana declared war on Bharata, to quell his raging suspicion Rama gently said, "Bharata a peerless archer, virtuous beyond compare, never takes up arms unless occasion demands .Of what use are our bows and arrows, when he himself comes here? What do I want, is it a kingdom gained by breaking a father's promise and claiming a brother's life? A kingdom begotten by the slaying of friends or relatives is like poisoned food and so unacceptable. If ever I desire anything, it is for the happiness of all my brothers, be they gems, jewels or the very world. This sea-bound earth is not inviolable to me but if dharma does not allow it, I will not lay siege even if it were the throne of Indra. If there be any pleasure of mine that is beyond the reach of my brothers may it perish in the fury of a fire. Having arrived in Ayodhya, Bharata must have been told of what had taken place during his absence. Honoring the Ikshvaku, tradition that decrees crowning of the first born, distressed at my banishment, Bharata is here for the love of me. Reproaching Kaikeyi, granted permission by Dasaratha, he would have arrived to offer me the kingdom of Kosala. Lakshmana, what makes you suspect Bharata? Is it fear or is it an injury caused to you by him in the past? Under no circumstances will a son kill a father. Nor will a brother kill a brother. You do not comprehend Bharata's magnanimity. This very moment with a word from me he will even crown you king of Kosala." Subdued, Lakshmana came down the tree and stood beside Rama respectfully. Meanwhile Bharata's armies stood around Chitrakuta as commanded by him, without encroaching on the sacred enclosure of the ascetics.
In chapter 98, Bharata instructs Shatrughna and Guha along with some troops each to search for Rama and Lakshmana in the forest. Bharata, personally, along with his ministers citizens and priests, proceed on foot to other side of the forest for the search. He goes through the forest for some time. Climbing up a tree, Bharata observes a plume of smoke at a distance and conjectures that place as Rama's hermitage. Bharata quickly proceeds, along with Guha, to see Rama.
While Lakshmana was suspecting Bharata of treachery and Rama was allaying those suspicions, Bharata was organizing his men. He bade Guha, to take a thousand of his relatives, well-armed to carry on the search. He would walk with his Gurus, his people, his ministers and citizens and Satrughna was to lead the search with the hill people. Unable to endure Rama's absence any longer, Bharata burst out saying "Peace eludes me and so long as my brother and Sita are not found, so long will my anguish continue. The unrest that rages in me will be quelled the day Rama is crowned king of Kosala. Blessed is Lakshmana who always beholds Rama and blessed is Sita, as she ever follows that lord of the earth. As Kubera brings splendor to the Nandanavana so does Rama to Chitrakuta. Striding hurriedly through clumps of trees, following the wisps of smoke, Bharata felt the thrill of a drowning man reaching the shores of mighty ocean.
In chapter 99, Bharata observes various signs, proving Rama's hermitage in the vicinity of his place of search. After proceeding for a distance, Bharata beholds Rama's hermitage and Rama too seated in the hut, wearing matted locks. Bharata laments Rama's misfortune of living as an ascetic. Bharata and Shatrughna throw themselves on Rama's feet in salutation. Rama embraces them both.
Bharata's excitement mounted as he neared the abode of Rama, requesting Vasishta to bring the queens, he strode ahead. Beholding what seemed to be the leafy cottage of Rama, Bharata saw a pile of chopped wood and flowers gathered for worship. Dried dung of deer and buffalo lay piled to be burnt on a cold night. Strips of bark and pieces of reed were tied to trees and bushes, as signs of different paths and some were meant to denote the whereabout of Rama and Lakshmana. Bharata told Satrughna, that the smoke they had seen, rose from the perpetual fires that the ascetics protected and maintained in the forest for their worship. "Here I will surely behold my brother who inhabits these fearsome forests because of me. I will now absolve myself, by falling at the feet of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana to regain their grace," lamented Bharata.
What Bharata had sought from the moment he had heard the dreadful news of Rama's exile, he now saw. An aura of profound sanctity prevailed around the cottage glowing with the effulgence of a sacrificial altar. There, gold plated bows and formidable arrows sparkled and radiated light, like the rays of the sun. Razor sharp swords rested snugly in scabbards of gold and shields of chased silver, studded with yellow nails of gold, twinkled like the stars. Gauntlets and finger guards of deerskin embellished with burnished gold, hung around enhancing the magnificence of the awesome array of weapons.
Thus came into sight the most beautiful and sacred home of Rama, impregnable as a fortress and inviolable to the enemy. Neither beast nor man dared to tread on its hallowed grounds. Just as deer keep away from a lion's lair, so did all keep away from the hermitage of that mighty prince of Ayodhya. Bharata's roving gaze suddenly stilled. He stood transfixed, as his eyes riveted on an image, to behold which, his soul had pined endlessly, and his mind had agonized relentlessly. He beheld Rama, his brother and his very life, a life more precious than the one he recognized as his own. Mighty and broad shouldered, with eyes like limpid pools, the lord of the ocean bound earth sat on a pile of kusa grass, God like and effulgent as Brahma. By his side sat Sita and Lakshmana.
Bharata stood like one hypnotized as he looked unbelievingly. Snapping out of his trance, he broke down at the sight of Rama clad in ascetic garb. Choking with grief he said, "An emperor who should be holding court, with the most exalted of men that inhabit the earth, now sits, garbed in deer skin, attended by beasts that inhabit the wild. A body perfumed with rare unguents, caressed by the finest and most expensive of silks is now robed in coarse bark. How can Rama ever bear the weight of his matted locks?" Cursed by my existence, that causes pain to all, they blame me for my cruelty and they blame me for depriving Rama of the luxuries of the palace". Distraught, overwhelmed and unable to say even another word beyond 'Arya', he fell at Rama's feet as did Satrughna. Rama tenderly gathered them into his embrace even as his tears mingled with those of his brothers.
In chapter 100, Rama gives instruction to Bharata as regards the duties of a king and the polity under an ideal monarchy under the pretext of enquiring about the welfare of his father and others.
This is discussed in next post.
In chapter 101, Rama asks Bharata why he has come to the forest, wearing robes of bark and antelope skin, abandoning Ayodhya kingdom. Bharata informs Rama about Dasaratha's death and requests Rama to take over the kingdom, endowed to him as per succession.
Bharata having listened to Rama pleaded, "When I am already lost to righteousness, by being deprived of the dharma of serving you and now, when I have also renounced the throne how can I dispense royal duties? There exists an ancient custom in the Ikshvaku dynasty that decrees the ascendancy of the first born to the throne. Come, return with me to the abundance of Ayodhya and crown yourself king, for the greater glory of Kosala.
"Kings are mortal they say, but I deem them to be gods for being implicitly righteous in their pursuit of dharma. Their matchless virtues render them god-like. Bewailing you, yearning to behold you and unable to divert his mind from you, our father has succumbed to his grief and departed to the abode of the gods."
In chapter 102, Rama fainted away, after hearing the news of his father's death and is brought back to consciousness by Bharata and others who sprinkle water on him. Rama laments in various ways. Bharata consoles him. Rama in turn consoles Seetha who is weeping. Rama painfully reaches the River Mandakini, offers water and balls of food to the spirit of his departed father and returns to the hut. The crying sounds of those brothers mourning for their father with Seetha created an echo in the mountain. Hearing their cry of distress, the troops approach Rama, who receives them all with affection.
Bharata's words hit Rama like a thunderbolt, and he swooned. Weeping bitterly for not being able to even perform the last rites, for that magnanimous king, who had died grieving for him he said, "I have no desire to go back to Ayodhya bereft of its king, even after the period of exile expires. I will miss his guidance and love."
Trying to comfort Sita who sobbed inconsolably he asked Lakshmana to get ready the ingudi cakes, so that they could go to the river and offer their libations. Sumantra accompanied the princes to help them perform the ritual. Rama standing in the waters, turned towards south and said, "Father, you are now in the land of our ancestors, may the libations of this water reach you". He then offered 'Pinda' along with his brothers saying, "We offer you the food that we now partake, for whatever a man partakes so do his gods.Meanwhile the waiting army hearing the mourning royals, left their camp to race towards the direction of the sound.and the clamour terrified the denizens of the forest.
Fleeing in terror, elephants deserted Chitrakuta trundled away into the neighboring forests. Panic-stricken herds of wolves, bears, buffaloes, apes and antelopes joined the flight. Petrified snakes slithered away in fright as ducks, cranes, geese, karandava birds, cuckoos and krauncha birds, flew raucously in all directions. Into this din came, the galloping, riding and walking armies of Ayodhya. When they beheld Rama their eyes brimmed and flowed with tears to see him seated on the bare earth. They censured Kaikeyi and Manthara, for the fate of their beloved lord even as Rama rushed to greet them.
In chapter 103, Vasishta and the queens were brought to Rama and Sita.
Meanwhile Vasishta was accompanying the queens to Rama's hermitage. Kausalya sighting the river Mandakini said, "Look at this river Sumitra. This is from where your dutiful son fetches water for Rama. May all those duties soon come to an end!" Noticing the ingudi cakes offered as 'Pinda' her sorrow doubled and she said, "A king, an emperor without equal and lord of the earth, whose glory rivals that of Indra, is offered lowly Ingudi cake. I cannot deem anything more tragic than this and I grieve for Rama who could afford no more than this". Tearfully reaching Rama's humble house they beheld the light of the Ikshvakus shining with the brilliance of an immortal cast out of the heavens. The sight shattered the queens.
Rama paid them his obeisance as did Sita and Lakshmana. Kausalya embraced Sita as a mother would her daughter saying, "Sita my dear, your countenance bears witness to your distress and reminds me of faded lotuses and crushed lilies. Like the sheen of gold is lost in the dust that covers it, your face is lost in the shadows of your exile". As Kausalya anguished over Sita, Rama approached Vasishta and clasped his feet, paying him reverential homage. Rama resolute in truth, Bharatha in virtue and Lakshmana in strength blazed with the brilliance of sacrificial fires surrounded by the priests.
This concludes chapters 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102 and 103 of Ayodhya Kanda where Bharata meets Rama, gets the duties of a king assessed by Rama and informs of Dasaratha’s demise. Rama is crestfallen at the news and performs rituals by offering libations to the deceased from the meagre belongings. The conservations will continue to decide who will return to Ayodhya which will be seen in many subsequent chapters.
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